Scott Vallow, the only Rhinos player left from the franchise’s last championship team, announced his retirement as a player today and has accepted a position as an assistant coach focusing on goalies, with the Western New York Flash women’s club. The 33-year-old goalkeeper who grew up in Napierville, Ill., had one year left on his contract with Rochester. He already has started working with the Flash, a Women’s Professional Soccer expansion franchise that made headlines on Tuesday by signing Brazilian star, Marta. Vallow and Flash head coach Aaran Lines were teammates with the Rhinos in 2006-07.

Scott Vallow making a save against former New England Revolution star Taylor Twellman in a 2006 U.S Open Cup match in 2006. Vallow made 16 saves through regulation and overtime and stopped the first two penalty kicks on PKs, but the Revs prevailed, 5-4. It was still one of the best matches in his 12-year career.

Vallow steps away as the Rhinos’ all-time leader in wins (83) and shutouts (34). He ranks third in starts (168) and minutes (15,053). He played for the team for 8½ seasons, helping it win A-League championships in 2000 and 2001 and reach the 2006 title match. He was the only player on the squad who also was on the 2001 team, the last Rhinos’ club to win a crown. Vallow played 12 pro seasons, including 2002-04 as a backup in MLS for the Colorado Rapids.

“It was a difficult decision. You hope you can play forever, but it’s time to make the transition,” said Vallow, who played for the Rhinos from 2000 to 2002 and from 2005 to 2010.

He was the starter for the first half of last season (6-2-4 record, 0.815 goals-against average), but coach Bob Lilley went with rookie Neal Kitson toward the end of the regular season and playoffs. Rochester won its first regular-season division or conference title since 2003. “It’s a loss for us not only for what he brought on the field but what he did in the community,” Lilley said. “But this organization will always have a link with Scott. He wore the jersey proudly for many years. For me, he was every sense of the word professional.”

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Jeff DiVeronica has covered professional soccer and the Rhinos for the Democrat and Chronicle since the team's inception in 1996. "Devo's Direct Kicks" takes aim mostly at Rochester soccer, but will also highlight the USL, MLS and U.S. national team play. Devo, his nickname since college at St. John Fisher, also hosts two weekly radio shows each Saturday on WHTK-AM/FM (1280/107.3 or www.whtk.com). "Kick This!" (11 a.m.) features soccer talk, while the Canandaigua National Bank High School Sports Show (noon) covers Section V sports. E-mail Jeff at jdiveron@DemocratandChronicle.com.
Or follow him on Twitter: @RocDevo